James l



(No Model.)

J L. FUGATE. MEAT TENDERER.

Patented July 28, 1891.

' WITNESSES:

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. FUGATE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MEAT-TENDERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,670, dated July 28,1891.

Application filed November 24, 1890. Serial No. 372,465. (No model.)

ful Improvements in Meat-Tenderers,of which the following is aspecification.

My said invention consists in various improvements in the details ofconstruction of that class of devices known as meat-tenderers, whereby avery efficient device for the purpose is provided, and also one which isof small cost to construct andvery convenient in use, as will behereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a perspective view of my improved device; Fig. 2, a cross-sectionon the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section on thedotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2 5

and Fig. 4, a perspective view of the plunger illustrating its form andconstruction.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the head of thedevice; B, the knives mounted in said head, and G the plunger forclearing said knives.

The head A preferably consists of a single casting, as shown in Fig. 2,formed with an eye on its top for the handle A 5 but it may be made upof several parts riveted together, as shown in Fig. 1, if preferred. Itis designed to make said head of sufficient weight to enable theoperator to easily perform the work for which the tool is designed.

The knives B may be of any number desired, and are arranged in rows, asshown, each row being preferably formed from a single plate, the backbeing continuous and integral therewith and mounted in the'head B. Inthe form shown in Fig. 1, where the head is made up of several parts,said knives are secured by rivets, which extend through said knives andthe several parts of the head, thus securing the whole together. In theform shown in Fig. 2, said knives are secured in the head by beingmounted in the mold in which said head is cast, the head being then castaround them, and this form is preferred because it is less costly, aswill be readily seen.

The plunger 0 consists of a metal plate, mounted between the two outerrows of knives and provided with perforations of a form and arrangementto permit the intermediate rows of knives to extend through them. It isprovided with an upright c on each side thereof, formed by bending upportions of the plate, each of which is slotted longitudinally andextends up through a perforation in the head A. A curved spring C ismounted on each of said uprights by means of a perforation at itscenter, through which the upright extends, said spring being arranged tobear against the under side of the head A and the top face of theplunger 0 and force said plunger down to a point near the edges of theknives. Said plunger is held in position by means of a pin 0, whichextends through the top ends of the slots in said uprights and atransverse perforation in a raised portion 011 the top of the head.

Inoperation the springs operate to force the plunger downwardly, andthus at each blow it serves to automatically clear the knives from themeat. By this arrangement a positive action is secured, and a device isprovided adapted to perform the work desired, which can be used veryrapidly and eiiiciently ,without any danger of disarranging any of itsparts, and one which after use can be readily taken apart for cleaning,it only being necessary to withdraw the pin c, when the plunger andsprings fall out, leaving the several parts separated, as will bereadily understood.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a meat-tenderer, thecombination of the head A, provided with a handle for operating thedevice, knives B, arranged in said head, the plunger 0, adapted tooperate between said rows of knives and formed with uprights secured toslide in perforations in said head, a fastener extending throughperforations in said uprights, and springs interposed between said headand said plunger, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a meat-tenderer, of the head A, provided with thehandle A, the knives secured in said head and arranged in rows, theplunger 0, formed with uprights which are slotted longitudinally andextend through perforations in the head, a transverse pin extendingthrough said slots, and springs 0, formed with perforations throughwhich said uprights extend, whereby said springs are secured in positionbetween said head and said plunger, substantially as set forth.

The combination, in a meat-tenderer, of the head A, the knives B,arranged in rows and secured in said head by being cast therein,theplunger B, formed of a plate mounted between the outer rows of theknives and provided with perforations through which the JAMES L.FUGA'IE. [L. S.]

\Vitnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, FRANK W. W001).

